little hearts and dinner

I am so behind on my Valentines...don't know about you, but the day of LOVE has snuck (it that a real word) on me this year!  I've been waiting to use all my funny and lovely hearts shaped images,  and I'm sure I won't get them all inked this time 'round!  Yikes!!!  I did manage to create a card for DS today using the SC at SCS.  

Those Inkadinkadoo Kid's quotes are just the best!  They remind me of the Art Linkletter TV show, "Kids' say the darnest things".  Precious!  I used one today to create a Valentine card for DS.  He has such a tender heart for children and I know he will appreciate this one.  I used a bit of cello bag to hold the hearts suspended in the jar.  They are from the Martha confetti heart punch.  I have more details on  my gallery .  

I am still smiling at the thought of the dinner I shared with my SCS/cyber friend, CAKath last night.  She was in town for business meetings and we arranged to meet up in the REAL world!  Oh, my, it was as though we had always been friends, so many different things we share.  We talked about art, life, dreams, and goals for hours and were the last patrons in the restaurant.  It was a most delightful time...I feel closer than ever to her and can only look forward to meeting up again.  And I won't hesitate to have her spy on big DS on his Spring trip to Southern Cali!!!

So how are all you gals doing on your Valentines...hope you are 'aheart' of me!!!  Be blessed today and always.

family Christmas cards

Let's see, it's a week till Christmas eve and I have one card in the mail!  That's right on my pace.  

Terrible to admit, perhaps, but I've come to realize I can't do it all, but I'll try to do it RIGHT!  I am glad I have 'people' who love me just the same...my heart will always be in it!

It is Wednesday again and the Sketch Challenge on SCS.  My card will make #2 postal, for a beloved brother and favorite uncle.  He'll appreciate all the fluff and stuff.  I had to use liquid applique on this fun collaged Santa from Tim Holtz.  If you would like to read the full details, you'll find them here.

So how about you, want give up any hints for being more organized and put together.  I'm convinced that arty types are only disorganized and chaos reigns...please share if this is not the case with you...I'd really love to change my stripes

mid pleasures and palaces

Today's Sketch Challenge looked like a stoplight to me!  I had to turn it on it's side and create a 'hurry' home card.  If you would like the specific details of this card, please stop into my gallery over on SCS.

I wanted the feeling of blankets, buckets of popcorn and cuties (tangerines), and movies on my card...I think the warm colors convey that.   We're preparing for the return of our DS for Christmas break.  Our family circle will be closed again.  We all feel the excitement in the air.

It's the very wee hours, I am listening to favorite praise music and texting messages to DS.  I am blessed that both my boys communicate with me this way.  In the beginning, I didn't cotton to this new technology.  But when I least expect it a little tidbit pops up on my screen and it's like a cyber hug!  

And for my sons, if you happen to read this...Mom's started using two fingers.....Hurry home...we're waiting the tree for you!  

I'd love to hear your thoughts on being anxious for the arrival of loved ones...it is in this moment I feel so alive, so hopeful, the anticipation...that is to me  the true essence of Christmas.

Christmas Joy

well, another Wednesday has rolled around and it's my most challenging challenge!  Roxie's sketch always has me scratching my head and trying to play by the rules.  I'm beginning to think I need to surf around and do more of the wonderful sketches out there...maybe not!

I decided to let my My Mind's Eye papers do the work here...something charming about the snowpeople!  I also made use of the lovely brown polka dot borders of the papers (a great use of otherwise scrap).  I  cuttled the panels with the snowflake embossing folder.  The sentiment sits atop a small rectangle that has had a dusting of Martha's very cool COARSE glitter.  I hate the mess glitter makes, but in thinking about it this morning, I've decided glitter is one of those things that should make us happy...so I'm going to be sparkling all over my bit of the earth today...who knows who might catch that happiness by passing by me!

As a side note, I've got a real sickie on my hands!  DS is being tested for mono and has been so sick this week and just droopy for the last several weeks.  If I could ask for your prayers for him, we would be blessed.  

dressed for dinner

It's time for another sketch challenge over on SCS...I had a blast this week as all parts of this card flowed together.  I used one of the clip art images from a book called Lifetime of Memories.  For a collage artist, which I probably am...these books are a dream...so many little bits and pieces to play with...I'm not one known for my jokes, but I love visual puns and words, all kind of words.  And I like to tell stories of things that actually happened in my life...you know that old saying " truth is stranger (and funnier) than fiction.  There are full details in my gallery for this card.

 We're skipping the turkey at our house and grilling filet mignon on the deck tomorrow afternoon.   Being raised in the South, our food traditions run deep and change is not what any real Southerner wants on a holiday.  In that regard, I am so happy I married a Californian...we make up our traditions from one year to the next.  My husband used to tease me by saying, 'anything you do twice is a tradition'.  Well, now with two boys almost raised up,  we have our favorites, but we all are willing to go a different way and explore new food.  I'd love to hear what graces your Thanksgiving tables.